Bacteriological Analysis of Well Water Sources in the Bambui Student Residential Area

Abstract

Majority of the population in the Bambui student residential area depend on wells as their source of water supply. Due to increasing complaints from students after using this well water sources, this study was carried out to examine the microbial quality of well water sources in the Bambui student residential area, Bamenda, Cameroon as a way of safe guarding public health against water borne diseases. Water samples from a total of fifteen wells, covered and uncovered were assessed for their bacteriological quality using the multiple tube fermentation technique to determine the coliform count using the most probable number method. Positive tubes of the presumptive test were further cultured on appropriate solid media. The organisms isolated were further characterized using standard procedures. The result of the study revealed that most of the wells were grossly contaminated with bacteria pathogens such as Klebsiella species (95%), Escherichia coli (52%) and Salmonella typhi (32.5%). Comparatively, the uncovered wells were more contaminated with bacteria pathogens than the covered well. All the water samples except three exceeded the standard limit of the most probable number (MPN) per 100 ml set for untreated drinking water by the World Health Organization. This result highlight the fact that most well water sources in the Bambui student residential area metropolis are not safe microbiologically for drinking without additional treatment such as boiling or disinfection and this could lead to outbreak of water borne diseases. Good and proper environmental and personal hygiene must be maintained especially by the users of these wells to prevent their contamination with bacterial pathogens. Wells should also be properly constructed.

Bacteriological Analysis of Drinking Water in Zamfara North Senatorial District, Nigeria

“…These values are high when compared with the permissible MPN index by world Health Organization of 10 coliforms/100ml of water sample. This observation is consistent with the reports of many researchers [16,27,30] who reported high coliform counts in water analyzed.…”

“…The result of the present study showed that total viable bacterial count in the drinking water samples ranged from 6.0×102 CFU/ml to 4.0×108 CFU/ml; this was high and exceeded the recommended limit of <500 CFU/ml. This result is similar to the work of Ngwa and Chrysanthus [27] and Agwaranze et al [28] who reported viable count of bacteria in the range of 2.0×103 CFU/ml to 7.3×104 CFU/ml and8.6×103 CFU/ml to 3.04×104 CFU/ml respectively. The high bacteria count is an indication that the various sources of the drinking water samples are highly contaminated which could be of public health concern.…”

“…Most of these organisms are potential pathogens of the coliform group. Similar findings have been recorded by Ngwa and Chrysanthus [27] who reported the presence of Escherichia coli, and Salmonella species from water samples. Also similar organisms have been reported by Idowu et al [33] on water samples from Shagamu.…”

“…It could also be attributed to drainage and flooding from contaminated surface water into the water sources [33]. Also, the presence of these organisms may be due to openness of the water sources which allows easy entrance of particles from the surroundings or drawing water from the sources with contaminated equipments as noted by Ngwa and Chrysanthus [27].…”

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“…Most probable number (MPN) was the microbiological analysis that was used in this research work. Most Probable Number (MPN) is a method used to estimate the concentration of viable microorganisms in a water sample by replicating liquid broth growth in ten-fold dilutions [29][30][31][32]. Presumptive test was used for the detection and estimation of total coliform organisms; the Gram-negative bacteria that ferment lactose at 35-37ºC within 24-48 h, in the well water sample.…”